By Jochen Werne
1. Opening Reflection
There are milestones in the life of an organization that symbolize far more than numbers or rankings. They represent the culmination of years of vision, persistence, teamwork, and the courage to innovate. For Experian, the news that we secured 6th place in the IDC FinTech Rankings 2025: Top 100 is one of many of these milestones.
Personally, I view this achievement not simply as an external validation, but as a mirror of our transformation — global and local. It reflects how we have successfully combined cutting-edge technology with responsible data usage, how we’ve supported clients in one of the world’s most demanding financial markets, and how we’ve built trust through innovation.
Rankings, of course, are never an end in themselves. They are a signal of direction, a measure of momentum, and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership. This reflection is an opportunity to step back, to recognize the efforts of our global and regional teams, and to share my perspective on the path we are charting.
2. Understanding the IDC FinTech Rankings
For those less familiar, IDC (International Data Corporation) is one of the world’s leading market intelligence and advisory firms. Its IDC FinTech Rankings have become a globally respected benchmark of excellence, measuring the top 100 technology providers to the financial services industry.
The methodology is rigorous: IDC considers revenues earned from financial institutions for hardware, software, and services, but the rankings also reflect the broader impact of technology providers on digital transformation within financial services. Simply put, the IDC FinTech Top 100 is where market leadership and innovation converge.
Experian’s rise to 6th place this year — up from 7th last year — marks the fourth consecutive year that we’ve been counted among the global top 10. For a company whose mission is to help businesses make more accurate decisions and empower consumers through data, this consistency matters. It demonstrates not only scale, but also the depth of trust that banks, insurers, and fintechs around the world place in us.
When Alex Lintner, CEO of Experian Technology & Software, commented on our achievement, he captured the essence of our role:
“Experian helps financial services companies address their biggest business challenges through continuous innovation in AI decisioning, advanced analytics, and fraud prevention.”
Alex Lintner – CEO Experian Technology & Software
This is not just a statement of what we do. It is a declaration of why we matter.
3. Global Momentum: What Brought Us Here
Behind every ranking are the innovations, projects, and teams that make it possible. In the years, Experian has accelerated its transformation from a data provider into a technology-driven decisioning leader in all markets globally – this is especially true when it comes to the transformation of the DACH market throughout the last two years. Three examples stand out.
Experian Assistant and the Globee Award 2025
Earlier this year, our Experian Assistant won the prestigious Globee Award for Technology in the category Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Solutions. This recognition was not just about building another AI tool. It was about redefining how businesses can interact with their data and models.
The Assistant integrates seamlessly into the Experian Ascend Platform™, enabling clients to:
- Build, test, and deploy credit risk models faster than ever before.
- Monitor model performance in real time.
- Explore datasets interactively, with AI guidance ensuring compliance and transparency.
- Cut time-to-market for decisioning solutions from months to days.
Crucially, we designed the Assistant around the principles of responsibility, fairness, and explainability. In a regulated industry, speed without transparency is meaningless. Trust requires both.
A New Era of Accuracy in Decisioning
Equally transformative has been our focus on accuracy in decisioning. As I reflected in a recent article “A new era of accuracy in decisioning”, accuracy is no longer just a competitive advantage — it is a necessity. Poor decisions cost banks billions, erode consumer trust, and slow down entire economies.
Experian has invested heavily in multi-score frameworks, next-generation fraud detection, and proprietary models that combine global AI expertise with local data richness. These investments have reshaped how our clients in banking, telco, retail, and insurance can assess risk, prevent fraud, and serve customers responsibly.
Model Risk Management Solutions
Another global breakthrough has been the Experian Assistant for Model Risk Management. Model governance has become one of the most pressing issues in financial services, with regulators demanding explainability, auditability, and fairness. By embedding risk management directly into the Ascend platform, we are helping financial institutions turn compliance into an enabler of innovation rather than a brake on progress.
4. Local Anchoring: Success Stories in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Global momentum only matters if it is translated into local impact. In the DACH region, we have taken bold steps to ensure that Experian’s global leadership is anchored in local realities.
The Boniversum Acquisition & Creditreform Partnership
In Germany, one of the most significant moves was the acquisition of Boniversum from Creditreform, combined with a strategic partnership. This step provided Experian with unparalleled access to local data while deepening ties with one of the country’s most respected business information providers.
For our clients, this has meant:
- Richer local datasets for credit scoring and identity verification.
- More accurate consumer insights, tailored to the specificities of the German market.
- Seamless integration of global fraud solutions with local regulatory compliance.
It was a move that reinforced our philosophy: global innovation must be rooted in local trust.
The new Consumer Delphi Score Pro
Building on this foundation, we introduced the Consumer Delphi Score, a next-generation risk model tailored to German financial institutions. Unlike traditional scores, which rely on limited data points, the Delphi Score combines broad consumer data, advanced analytics, and AI explainability features to deliver fairer and more accurate credit decisions.
This model has already been adopted by several mid-sized German banks, who see it as a tool not only for risk management but also for expanding access to credit responsibly.
We’ve now updated the model with the new data asset and our customers are able to consume the new Consumer Delphi Score Pro (CDSPro)
5. The Human Factor: Our Teams
Rankings, awards, and case studies are only the visible tip of the iceberg. Beneath lies the true engine of success: our teams.
Globally, Experian employs more than 20,000 people across 44 countries. But what matters is not the number — it is the collaboration. Our R&D and delivery centers in the US, Europe, the UK, and Asia work hand-in-hand with local teams in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to bring global innovation into local practice.
I have seen firsthand how our DACH colleagues combine technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and cultural understanding to make solutions work in one of the most complex markets in the world. Their dedication, often in the background, often under intense timelines, is what transforms strategy into reality.
6. Challenges Navigated
Every success is earned by navigating challenges. In our case, these challenges are not obstacles to fear but realities to embrace.
- Regulation & Compliance: Germany’s financial sector operates under some of the strictest frameworks worldwide — from MaRisk to DSGVO, from EBA guidelines to the upcoming EU AI Act. Navigating these is complex, but it also makes us sharper and more resilient. Delivering solutions that not only help our clients comply with existing and upcoming regulations, but also enable them to outpace their competition, is a major advantage of partnering with Experian.
- Data Quality & Availability: Without high-quality, local data and roprietery data no statistical model and no AI model can perform. That is why partnerships like Creditreform and investments in Boniversum are so crucial.
- Trust: Technology without trust is worthless. We must constantly prove that our models are fair, our data is secure, and our innovations serve the consumer as much as the institution.
- Scalability of Innovation: One-off innovations do not move markets. Scalable, repeatable, sustainable innovation does. That is our focus.
7. Looking Forward: The Experian DACH Perspective
The IDC ranking is a recognition of the past and present. But as a qualitity leader, our focus is the future. For Experian DACH, the path ahead is clear.
- Expanding the existing best Data Assets
We will continue to enrich our already leading datasets across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, ensuring that global expertise is powered by local relevance. - Responsible AI Leadership
Our commitment to fairness, explainability, and compliance will remain at the center of our innovation strategy. We will continue to be a relevant voice in shaping the EU’s approach to AI governance. - Deepening Industry Partnerships
We will strengthen ties with banks, insurers, telcos, retailers, and fintechs, co-creating solutions that meet their specific needs. - Investing in Talent
The future belongs to those who can think critically, innovate responsibly, and act with integrity. We will invest in our people to ensure Experian DACH remains an employer of choice. - Driving Sustainable Growth
Growth is not just financial. It is about contributing positively to society. Whether through enabling access to credit, protecting consumers from fraud, or ensuring responsible use of data, we will measure success by impact as well as income and our CSR initiatives remain key.
8. Conclusion
Securing 6th place in the IDC FinTech Rankings is not the destination. It is a milestone on a journey defined by innovation, responsibility, and collaboration.
As CEO of Experian DACH, I am proud of what we have achieved, but even more excited about what lies ahead. The combination of global innovation and local anchoring gives us a unique position to lead in one of the most demanding markets in the world.
We will continue to be our client’s partner in navigating complexity and enabling growth, with our teams which act with brilliance, resilience, and dedication.
To market can expect even more from us — because we expect more from ourselves and the horizon is clear. For Experian in DACH, the journey has only just begun.
